any reinforcement in the prop area of the fuselage is just for the ice shedding just as the gentleman wrote above.
if anyone actually has the checklist of gear up landing from beach, I hope they will post it.
feathering props on short final might prolong float as the drag is suddenly reduced...I've seen this in planes that have shut down and feathered on short short final.
doing so does comit the plane to land, no last second go around.
tough call, safest way to keep your license is to do what the book says...